Chazal in מסכת ברכות state,
הכל הולך אחר החיתום
Everything is dependent on its conclusion. Based on this rule, the ספרי מוסר point out that the way an individual concludes the year, determines the value of that passing year. Properly utilizing the final שבת of the year as well as the subsequent days of the final week of the year can bring a תיקון to any שבת or weekday that was not properly utilized throughout the year.
Parshas ניצבים begins with כלל ישראל undergoing a new ברית with the רבש”ע, renewing the covenant of מתן תורה.
לעברך בברית ….אשר ה’ אלוקיך כורת עמך היום…למען הקים אותך היום לו לעם והוא יהיה לך לאלוקים
We sealed a binding agreement with The רבש”ע to be His nation. The פסוק continues,
ולא אתכם לבדכם אנוכי כורת את הברית הזאת…כי את אשר ישנו פה…ואת אשר איננו פה
This agreement is binding for all times.
The נתיבות שלום notes, that the words ניצבים היום are alluding to the day of ראש השנה of which it is said היום הרת עולם. Every year on ראש השנה, we declare to ourselves and to the entire world, that the covenant between us and Hashem is still lasting. As חז”ל state,
אמרו לפני מלכויות כדי שתמלכוני עליכם
We crown Hashem as our King and as the King of the entire world. ה’ אלוקי ישראל מלך ומלכותו בכל משלה. Even as the entire world is engulfed in pursuit of materialsm, we remain strong in maintaining that binding agreement of thousands of years ago,
למען הקים אותך היום לו לעם והוא יהיה לך לאלוקים
While the world around us does not yet recognize it, we proudly declare that there is a Master and Creator who runs and controls the entire world, and yearn for the day when
וידע כל פעול כי אתה פעלתו ויבין כל יצור כי אתה יצרתו
the whole world will believe and understand this reality.
One of the destructive tools that the nations of the world utilize to promote their distorted views of the world is social media. These platforms promote countless מדות רעות, including jealousy, לשון הרע, excessive materialsm, ליצנות and more. As we prepare ourselves for ראש השנה and for crowning the רבש”ע as our King, we can remind ourselves that we’re different than the rest of the world, who did not undergo the ברית of פרשת ניצבים. We did, and as such, have an obligation to live a more elevated lifestyle. Certainly, Whatsapp groups that promote negative values are not groups we should be affiliated with. And by removing ourselves from these negative influences, we are bringing ourselves closer to the רבש”ע and fulfilling our commitment of all those years ago. And that certainly is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves for the upcoming ימי הדין.